Surgical evacuator device



April 9, 1968 D. G. MONDIADIS 3,376,868

SURGICAL EVACUATOR DEVICE Filed June 4, 1964' FIG.|

INVENTOR. 1 50 a 46 DIMITRI G. MONDIADIS I ATTORNEYS United StatesPatent 3,376,868 SURGICAL EVACUATOR DEVICE Dimitri G. Mondiadis, NewYork, N.Y., assignor to Howe Sound Company Filed June 4, 1964, Ser. No.372,479 6 Claims. (Cl. 128-278) This invention relates to surgicalevacuator devices for draining fluids from a wound and, moreparticularly to a device which functions both as a-pump and as acontainer for the fluids withdrawn. v

Post-operative drainage of closed surgical wounds has been accomplishedby inserting plastic tubes within the Wound itself and extending themoutwardly from the patients body at a point somewhat removed from theincision. The number of these tubes is determined by the nature and sizeof the wound. Liquid may be introduced into the wound through one suchtube and removed by suction along with body fluids through one or moreof the other tubes which serve as evacuators. The evacuator tubes aregenerally left in place for a period of time after the liquid supplytube has been clamped off or removed to eliminate voids produced by theliquid and to dry the wound. This closed internal circulation of asurgical wound decreases the healing time and contributes substantiallyto the comfort of the patient.

In accordancewith the present invention an improved surgical evacuatordevice is provided to induce suction in the evacuator tube .or tubesused in draining the wound and to provide a container in which thewithdrawn fluid may be collected for hygienic disposal. One primaryobject of the invention is to provide an evacuator device which is aseconomical in cost as it is reliable in maintaining the necessarysuction during the protracted period of this treatment. An importantfeature of the new device particularly contributing to this end is aone-piece pump-container body which creates the necessary suction. Thisis in contrast to prior art devices which conventionally incorporateseparate actuating meanssuch as coil springs. Such springs may bedisposed within the evacuator container itself, thus adding to the bulkof the structure and reducing available-interior space, or may bedisposed externally making the device cumbersome and inconvenient to useand operate. Prior art devices also conventionally use intricate valvesto control the flow of air and/or liquids into the container. Such valvemeans add to weight and cost and complicate the structure.

Broadly stated, the new evacuator device for removing and collectingfluids from a closed wound comprises a compressible pump-container ofresilient elastomeric material having top and bottom portions connectedby a corrugated sidewall. This pump-container is expandable solely bythe resiliency of its corrugated sidewall after it is compressed. Anevacuator tube opening in communication with the interior of the pumpcontainer is adapted to receive an evacuator tube th'erein A ventopening communicates with the atmosphere. A sealing means is attached tothe top and is adapted to seal thevent opening.

It is particularly advantageous to form the pump-container of anelastomeric material of considerable elastic memory which is translucentso that visual observation may be made of the amount and othercharacteristics of the fluid collected within it. A vent sealing meansis contemplated in several embodiments which permit negative pressure tobe established within the pump container without back-flow into thewound. When full the evacuator device may be replaced by an empty oneand the closed circulation treatment continued. The full pump-containerwhich is removed may be disposed of hygienically without being openedand therefore its economical construction is of considerablesignificance.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described hereinbelow withreference to the accompanying draw ing, wherein I FIG. .1 is anelevation partly broken away of the as.- sernbled surgical evacuatordevice;

FIG. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective of the valve unit of theassembly; 7

FIG. 4 is a detailed section of another embodiment of the inventionillustrating a diaphragm sealing means; and

FIG. 5 is a detail section of another embodiment illustrating adiaphragm sealing means in the valve turret.

The evacuator device of the invention includes a substantially closedpump-container comprising top and bottom portions 10 and 12 connected bya continuous substantially cylindrical corrugated wall 14. Thecorrugations of the wall 14 are defined by alternate annular ridges andgrooves in parallel planes in the manner of a bellows. It is preferredthat the pump-container be formed integrally of a resilient elastomericmaterial having a high elastic recovery characteristic. Polypropylene isparticularly advantageous for this purpose and it is also translucent topermit observation of the interior of the pump-container. Indicatingmarks may be formed on the sidewall 14 of the pump-container to permitmeasurement of the volume of its liquid contents and an integral loop 16may be included as shown to permit the device to be supported in use.

It is a feature of this pump-container that it may be axially compressedby downward displacement of the top portion 10 toward the bottom portion12, and thereafter the inherent resilience of the sidewall'l4 will tendto ex pand the corrugations and return the pump-container to its normalconfiguration.

Referring to FIGS. 13 there is shown as'an integral part of theelastomeric pump-container a valveunit which includes a turret 18projecting from the top portion it) of the pump-container. The interiorof turret 18 is hollow and communicates with the interior of the pump- Icontainer by means of an opening 20. Also, a vent opening 22 and anevacuator tube opening 24 extend through the wall of the turret 18 incommunication with its interior. integrally molded to the turret 18 is aremovable plug 26 of the same material as the pump-container and theturret and having a stopper portion 28 adapted to seat in the ventopening 22 in fluid-tight sealed relation-- ship therewith. A hingeportion 36 attaches the plug 26 to the turret 1S and permits it to bemoved quickly and easily into and out of the sealed position.

Removably fitted in the opening 24 is the end of a flexible evacuatortube 32 which may be of a suitable synthetic elastomeric material. Theend of the tube 32 remote from the turret 14 is preferably equipped witha forked connector 34 in which are mounted respective opposed ends of alooped tube 36 formed with a multiplicity of perforations 38. The loopedtube 36 is of conventional 3 construction and is designed to be insertedwithin the surgical wound that is to be drained.

"Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown detail section of anotherembodiment of the device. There the evacuator 32 seats in an opening 40in communication with the interior of the pump-container. The ventcomprises a plurality of openings 42 communicating with the atmosphere.The vent openings 42 are sealed by a resilient diaphragm 44 attached tothe top 10. The diaphragm 44 is adapted to cover the openings 42 suchthat when gas is expressed from the interior of the pump-container thediaphragm will lift up permitting escape of gas. When the gas pressurewithin the container is less than atmospheric the diaphragm 44 will seatover the openings 42 and seal them.

Referring to FIG. 5, a detail section of another embodiment of theturret is shown. There a hollow turret 46 has an evacuator tube opening48 adapted to receive the evacuator tube 32 therein. A plurality of ventopenings 50 are provided in the upper portion of the turret 46. The ventopenings 50 are sealed against the atomsphere when the gas pressurewithin the pump container is reduced by means of a resilient diaphragm52. A guard 54 protects the diaphragm 52 from being accidentallyunseated when in use.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the stopper portion 28 of the plug 26 is in itsposition closing the vent 22 leading into the interior of the turret 18,while in FIG. 3 the plug 28 has been removed to leave the vent opening22 in free communication with the atmosphere. When the tube 32 isproperly inserted in the wound and the wound has been closed, the plug26 is placed in its open position shown in FIG. 3 and the pump-containeris axially compressed by hand to bring the top portion down quite closeto the bottom portion 12. Air within the pumpcontainer is thus expelledthrough the vent opening 22,

and when the maximum collapse of the pump-container is reached the plug26 is moved on its hinge 30 so that its stopper portion 28 closes ofl?the vent opening 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

' Upon release of the manual compression collapsing the pump-container,the resilience of its corrugated sidewall 14 creates a tendency in it toexpand and increase the enclosed volume therewithin. This in turncreates a suction transmitted through the tubes 32 and 36, and from thelatter by the openings 38 to whatever fluid may have collected in thewound. Consequently, this fluid is drawn through the tubes 36 and 32into the pump-container. Because the wound is closed, air does not leakinto the pump-container to disturb its operation and it continues toexpand slowly as it is filled with drained fluid. While this takes placethe assembly may be attached on or adjacent to the patient by means ofthe loop 16.

If for any reason suction is broken and the pump-container expandswithout drawing fluid into its interior, the suction can bereestablished simply by removing the plug 26 to open the vent 22 so thatthe pump-container may be compressed and re-sealed. When it is expandedand substantially full, the pump-container may be detached from the tube32 and disposed of as desired. A new unit may then be attached and theoperation repeated until further drainage of the patients wound isunnecessary.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4 and 5 there is no need for separate manualoperation of the vent control. When the pump-container is manuallycompressed the interior gases are easily expelled through the ventopenings 50 (FIG. 5). The suction created by reason of the expansiveaction of the corrugated side walls 14 causes the diaphragm 52 toinstantly seat upon the openings 50 when the compressive forces upon thepump-container are released.

I claim:

1. An evacuator device for removing and collecting fluids from a closedwound, said evacuator device comprising:

(a) a compressible pump-container of resilient elastomeric materialhaving top and bottom portions "connected by a corrugated sidewallhaving a wall thickness with elastic memory sufficient to expand saidpump-container solely by the resiliency of its corrugated sidewall afterit is compressed;

(b) a valve turret on said top portion defining the sole communicationto the pump-container interior and having an evacuator tube openingtherein adapted to receive an evacuator tube and a vent openingcommunicating with the atmosphere; and

(c) a resilient diaphragm connected to said top and adapted to seal saidvent opening.

2. An evacuator device for removing and collecting fluids from aclosedwound, said evacuator device comprising:

(a) a compressible pump-container of resilient translucent polypropylenehaving top and bottom portions connected by a corrugated sidewall havinga wall thickness with elastic memory suflicient to expand saidpump-container solely by the resiliency of its corrugated sidewall afterit is compressed;

(b) a valve turret on said top portion defining the sole communicationto the pump-container interior and having an evacuator tube openingtherein adapted to receive an evacuator tube and a vent openingcommunicating with the atmosphere; and

(c) sealing means connected to said top and adapted to seal said ventopening.

3. An evacuator device for removing and collecting fluids from a closedwound, said evacuator device comprising:

(a) an axially compressible pump-container of integral resilientelastomeric material having top and bottom portions connected by acorrugated sidewall having a Wall thickness with elastic memorysufficient to expand said pump-container solely by the resiliency of itscorrugated sidewall after it is compressed;

(b) an integral hollow valve turret of the same material as saidpump-container on the exterior side of said top portion, said turretdefining the sole communication to the pump-container interior throughan evacuator tube opening and a vent opening communicating with theatmosphere;

(0) an evacuator tube removably inserted in said evacuator tube openingand adapted to communicate with said fluids in said Wound; and

(d) a displaceable plug of the same material as said pump-containerhinged integrally to the exterior of said turret and adapted to beremovably inserted in and to seal said vent opening.

4. An evacuator device for removing and collecting fluids from a closedwound, said evacuator device comprising:

(a) an axially compressible pump-container of integral resilientelastomeric material having top and bottom portions connected by acorrugated sidewall, said pump-container being expandable solely by theresiliency of its corrugated sidewall after it is compressed;

(b) an integral hollow valve turret of the same material as thepump-container on the exterior side of said 'top portion, said turretdefining the sole communication to the pump-container interior throughan evacuator tube opening and a vent comprising a plurality of openingscommunicating with the atmosphere;

(0) an evacuator tube removably inserted in said evacuator tube openingand adapted to communicate with said fluids in said wound; and

(d) a resilient diaphragm disposed upon said vent openings and adaptedto prevent air from entering said pump container when the interior gaspressure is less than atmospheric pressure.

5 6 5. An evacuator device according to claim 4 wherein 3,084,691 4/1963Stoner 128278 said elastomeric material is of polypropylene and said3,062,152 11/1962 Huff 103-148 pump-container is substantiallytranslucent. 3,058,627 10/1962 Eskridge 128--278 6. An evacuator devicein accordance with claim 5 3,172,577 3/1965 Hartung 128-278 wherem 1nadd1t1on sa1d turret 1s pr0v1ded Wlth a guard 5 OTHER REFERENCES toprotect said diaphragm against accidental opening.

Bel-O-Pak, brochure of Quest, Inc., rece1ved 1n Patent References CitedOfiice September 1963. UNITED STATES PATENTS RICHARD A. GAUDET, PrimaryExaminer. 3,190,619 6/1965 Penney et a1. 128-272 10 3,115,138 12/1963McElvenny et a1. 128-278 CHARLES R ROSENBAUM Dedication3,376,868.--Dimif/ri G. M ondiadis New York, N.Y. SURGICAL EVACUA- TORDEVICE. Patent md Apr. 9, 1968. Dedication filed Sept. 10, 1970, by theassignee, H owmedioa, Inc. Hereby dedicates the entire term of the atentto the Public.

[Official Gazette February 9, 1.971

1. AN EVACUATOR DEVICE FOR REMOVING AND COLLECTING FLUIDS FROM A CLOSEDWOUND, SAID EVACUATOR DEVICE COMPRISING: (A) A COMPRESSIBLEPUMP-CONTAINER OF RESILIENT ELASTOMERIC MATERIAL HAVING TOP AND BOTTOMPORTIONS CONNECTED BY A CORRUGATED SIDEWALL HAVING A WALL THICKNESS WITHELASTIC MEMORY SUFFICIENT TO EXPAND SAID PUMP-CONTAINER SOLELY BY THERESILIENCY OF ITS CORRUGATED SIDEWALL AFTER IT IS COMPRESSED; (B) AVALVE TURRET ON SAID TOP PORTION DEFINING THE SOLE COMMUNICATION TO THEPUMP-CONTAINER INTERIOR AND HAVING AN EVACUATOR TUBE OPENING THEREINADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN EVACUATOR TUBE AND A VENT OPENING COMMUNICATINGWITH THE ATMOSPHERE; AND (C) A RESILIENT DIAPHRAGM CONNECTED TO SAID TOPAND ADAPTED TO SEAL SAID VENT OPENING.